Weekly Bible Study ▪ Mark 10:17-27

11 October 2015
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time 

Shocked, sad, grieving, sorrowful, gloomy, distressed, dismayed, heavy of heart: Someone exhibiting these behaviors would seem to be in a state of emotional upheaval. Each of these words is found in one of the many English translation of the Bible to render the Greek word that describes the rich young man in Mark's gospel. That makes this passage a good text to help us understand an important part of Bible Study: the translator's choice of words.

The NABRE*, for example, tells us that the rich young man was “sad and his face fell” upon hearing the request of Jesus. In the Good News Bible we read that “gloom spread over his face.”  “Shocked” is the word we find in the NRSV*.

An editor’s use of one word over another can change how a reader understands this man’s struggle. It is one thing to say the man was sad and quite another to say he was grieving or shocked. The reader may, in fact, resonate more deeply with the plight of the young man when confronted with the various nuances of a word. This can be a rewarding experience for the reader. When readers compare a variety of translations of one biblical text, they are able to encounter God's Word more fully and discover the deeper meanings that exist within the passage.

Whatever his state of emotional being, it is clear that the rich young man in Mark's gospel is disillusioned after confronting Jesus. He seems to be a faithful and devout Jew who believes he is doing all the right things in terms of his religion. But in the eyes of Jesus it is not enough. When the young man is asked to do more than he is willing, he walks away disappointed.

This passage might lead us to ask: who is more disappointed in this story, the young man … or Jesus?


*New American Bible, Revised Edition and New Revised Standard Version, respectively

The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, the Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.